The forecast was for 45 knts, so as prudent sailors, we changed plans and had another day in Whangaparapara. We went ashore and did a walk to the Hot Springs. The walk followed an old tram track, again related to the Kauri Industry and meandered through beautiful bush. The hot springs were amazing, a stream with water as hot as a bath. No formal changing rooms or manicured landscape, a few well-placed stones made little pools where you could just hop in and sit down!
The next day, the forecast was better for the first part of the day, but was due to pick up to gale or even storm force by the evening as the tail end of Cyclone Ita hit New Zealand’s coasts. We set off early, and once again, we found ourselves wallowing in biggish seas, with not much wind. However, the wind picked up nicely and we sailed past Spirit of New Zealand at 7.5 kns!
Had a good sail the rest of the way to Waiheke Island, sailed through Man O’ War Bay at 6 knts and round to Putiki Bay, where we came into 25knts on the nose. Anchored in 3m of water with 50+ metres of chain and then welcomed Jack Hargreaves on board. Jack was involved with building Tuarangi at the age of 15, back in 1954. He then sailed around the word with her in 1962, changing ship in the Caribbean to start his career as a yacht skipper. Jack and his wife, Jocelyn, invited us for a yummy dinner, and Jack regaled us with stories of the building process (8 years), the people involved, the acquisition of the necessary materials and their first voyage. Jack lent us his dinghy to come back to the boat and we battened down the hatches preparing for the storm. The wind gusted stronger and stronger, overnight, peaking at about 40 gusting 50 knts around 10am. We had ‘fun’ baling Jacks boat at the windiest bit, but soon the wind eased and we were able to meet Jack on the shore, where he took us for a ‘tiki tour of Waiheke. The beaches on the north side were spectacular, with huge waves crashing in. We were glad to be on the south side! After a supermarket shop and more of Jack and Jocelyn’s superb hospitality, we returned again to Tuarangi, with renewed respect for those who built her.